Petunia plant named ‘Oscopet2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Oscopet2’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; narrow leaves; star-shaped purple-colored flowers; and relative tolerance to low temperatures.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Oscopet2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Oscopet2’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cold-tolerant Petunia cultivars with small leaves and attractive flower coloration.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in March, 2004 in Asakura-city, Fukuoka, Japan of a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number peku34, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number peku72, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Asakura-city, Fukuoka, Japan in May, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Asakura-city, Fukuoka, Japan since August, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Oscopet2’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Oscopet2’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Narrow leaves.     -   4. Star-shaped purple-colored flowers.     -   5. Relatively tolerant to low temperatures.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia have narrower leaves than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia have narrower leaves than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia have sharper petal         apices than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of ‘Oostchang’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Asakura-city, Fukuoka, Japan, plants of the new Petunia and ‘Oostchang’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were more outwardly spreading than         plants of ‘Oostchang’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Petunia were more viscid than         leaves of plants of ‘Oostchang’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Oostchang’ differed in flower         color as flowers of plants of ‘Oostchang’ had pink-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Oscopet2’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘Oscopet2’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in De Kwakel, The Netherlands under commercial practice during the summer in an outdoor nursery. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranging from 5° C. to 16° C. Plants were pinched one time about two weeks after planting and had been growing for three months when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘Oscopet2’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number peku34, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number peku72, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven days at             temperatures of 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at             temperatures of 19° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white to light brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and outwardly spreading             plant habit. Freely branching habit with about 13 lateral             branches developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral             branch development. Moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 21.4 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 36.7 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 18.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly.         -   Texture.—Densely pubescent; slightly viscid.         -   Color.—Close to 143A to 143B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 4.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; slightly             viscid.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             144A; towards the base, close to 144C to 144D. Fully             developed leaves, upper surface: Between 137C and 138A;             venation, close to 144A. Fully developed leaves, lower             surface: Close to 146C; venation, close to 144A to 144B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144A to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils. Freely flowering habit with usually             about 170 flowers developing per plant. Flowers face upright             to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—Not detected.         -   Time to flower/natural flowering season.—Plants of the new             Petunia initiate and develop flowers about three months             after planting. Plants flower continuously in The             Netherlands from June until frost.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven days             on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 2.1 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Narrowly oblong. Length: About 1.4 cm.             Diameter: About 5 mm. Color: Close to N186A to N186B.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 3.5 cm. Petal width: About 1.4 cm. Petal shape:             Oblanceolate. Petal apex: Apiculate. Petal margin: Entire;             undulate. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:             Pubescent. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface:             Between N74A and N78A; venation, close to N186B. Petal, when             opening, lower surface: Close to 77A; venation, close to             77A. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to N78A to             N78B; venation, close to N186B. Color becoming closer to             N82A with development. Throat: Close to 85A to 85B;             venation, close to N186B. Tube: Close to 79C; color becoming             closer to N77C with development.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About             1.7 mm. Sepal width: About 1.2 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate.             Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface:             Close to 143A; towards the base, close to 144B. Color, lower             surface: Close to 143A to 143B; towards the base, close to             144B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.8 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color:             Close to 143B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per             flower. Anther shape: Reniform. Anther length: About 1.5 mm.             Anther color: Close to 90C to 90D. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 115C. Pistils: Quantity: One per             flower. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Style length: About 6 mm.             Style color: Close to 144C. Stigma color: Close to 148A to             148B. Ovary color: Close to 144B. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −5° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to Petunia. 

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Oscopet2’ as illustrated and described. 